Border commission to provide $1.1 million for community, economic development projects in upstate NY

A total of $1.1 million in federal community and economic development grants will be made available this year to upstate New York municipalities and nonprofits through the Northern Border Regional Commission program, according to a recent announcement made by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.

Local governments and nonprofit organizations in Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence and other north country, Central New York, Finger Lakes and Mohawk Valley region counties can apply for up to $250,000 per project under the federal program announced Thursday.

Applications seeking financial assistance must be submitted by the end of June to the state Department of State, which will review and submit them to the commission.

I am pleased to hear that, this summer, we will see the completion of the 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel in Clayton, which received funding from the 2011 NBRC program, Dierdre K. Scozzafava, a former mayor of Gouverneur who now serves as deputy secretary of state for local government services, said in a news release. Over the past year, we have also seen how funds from the 2012 NBRC round have been leveraged with the Northern New York Maple Project in the Tupper Lake region.

Eligible projects must meet one of the following criteria: develop transportation, water, sewer and telecommunications infrastructure in the region; assist residents in the region with acquiring job skills and employment-related education, or provide training with respect to entrepreneurship, technology and business development.

Additionally, projects that provide basic health care and other public services for areas that are severely economically distressed; promote resource conservation, tourism, recreation and preservation of open spaces in manners consistent with economic development goals, or promote the development of renewable and alternative energy sources in the region are eligible for NBRC grant funding.

Department of State spokesperson Edison Alban said grants are expected to be awarded in late summer.

All submissions must be postmarked by June 30 and sent to the DOS by both mail  New York Department of State, Attn. Kyle Wilber, One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Ave., Albany, N.Y. 12231  and via email at nbrc@dos.ny.gov.